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Koizumi Elected LDP President, to be Premier Thurs.
Koizumi Elected LDP President, to be Premier Thurs.
Japan's former Health and Welfare Minister Junichiro Koizumi was elected Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Tuesday and will become Japan's 56th prime minister to succeed unpopular Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori.
"I was able to win strong support from many party members and lawmakers by saying, 'Change the LDP, change Japan," Koizumi said after his victory. "I keenly feel the weight of the responsibility I now face."
The 59-year-old reformist Koizumi won a majority of votes in the first round of balloting with 298 votes out of 484 efficient votes.
Koizumi beat two rivals, former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and Taro Aso, minister of economic and fiscal policy. Hashimoto, who heads the largest LDP faction, won only 155 votes while Aso was left far behind with 31 votes.
Another contender, LDP Policy Chief Kamei pulled out of the race earlier and threw his support to Koizumi.
Koizumi is almost certain to become prime minister as the LDP- led coalition's majority in the House of Representatives, which has the final say in selecting the premier. The Diet (parliament) vote is scheduled to be held on Thursday.
Koizumi is expected to begin work later Tuesday on a new lineup of both the cabinet and the three key posts of the ruling party -- secretary general, chairman of the policy council and chairman of the general council. He plans to launch a new cabinet Thursday.
Koizumi has vowed to reform the government and conducted a " substantial" change to the current cabinet.
"I will put the right person in the right place, regardless of factions," he told reporters.
Koizumi, who sent jitters through the ruling camp during his campaign by suggesting that he may rethink the alliance with the LDP's two ruling coalition allies, is expected to meet with the leaders of the two partners to seek their cooperation, his aides said.
The meeting between Koizumi and the two leaders -- New Komeito Party leader Takenori Kanzaki and New Conservative Party leader Chikage Ogi -- is expected to be held Wednesday at the earliest, the aides said.
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